Washing cylinder and door therefor



Nov. 15, 1966 H. c. ELLIS WASHING CYLINDER AND DOOR THEREFOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 25, 1965 w Q i I Iva-L F L a INVENTOR Huben C Ell/s Afiif NOV. 15, 1966 c, ELL|$ WASHING CYLINDER AND DOOR THEREFOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 25, r1965 INVENTOR Huberf C. El/is BY W 6WW M% 1966 H. c. ELLIS WASHING CYLINDER AND DOOR THEREFOR 5 SheetsSheet 5 Filed July 25, 1963 H mm We mm M Nov. 15, 1966 H. c. ELLIS 3,285,466

WASHING CYLINDER AND DOOR THEREFOR Filed July 25, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

Huber! C Ellis BY ,f/ ,MXW

Nov. 15,1966 H. c. ELLIS 3,285,466

WASHING CYLINDER AND DOOR THEREFOR Filed July 25, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 0. r G 0 /43 /4/ m. 8

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United States Patent 3,285,466 WASHING CYLINDER AND DOOR THEREFOR Hubert C. Ellis, Evanston, Ill., assignor to The Ellis Drier Company, Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Filed July 25, 1963, Ser. No. 297,624 Claims. (Cl. 220-41) ports along the forward edge thereof an elongated horizontally disposed cylinder having an outer casing or shell and an inner washing cylinder concentric therewith and rotatably supported therein. Both the shell and the washing cylinder have door equipped access openings alignable with each other so as to permit laundry to be placed 5 therein and removed from the interior of the washing cylinder. Normally the outer casing and the enclosed washing cylinder are contained within the general dimensions of the frame and in such position the access openings are located along the upper quadrant of the cylinder thereof. To facilitate the removal of the laundry from the washing cylinder, provision is made to swing the outer casing about its pivotal access forwardly of the frame which disposes the access openings generally along the forward lower quadrant of the cylinder and forwardly of the frame.

It further has been customary heretofore to form both the inner washing cylinder and the doors for closing access openings thereof of stainless steel, and particularly a weldable stainless steel, and also to provide wedge-type doors so that the weight of the clothing and the washing solution contained within the washing cylinder falling thereagainst during the washing operation tends more firmly to urge the doors into the position thereof closing the access openings. Until a short time ago, the standard washing solutions employed by the operators of commercial laundries included a cleaning agent in the form of a stearate soap which tended to form a protective and lubricating film upon the stainless steel surfaces of the door and the washing cylinder facing each other when the doors are in the closed position thereof; t-his lubricating film not only immediately released the door upon unlatching thereof but actually served to promote the lapping of the door with respect to the washing cylinders during use so that the fit of the door on the washing cylinder actually improved with age. Furthermore, the the stearate film, prevented abrasives such as emery dust, filings, dirt or grindings often encountered in washing from damaging the stainless steel between the doors and the washer cylinder.

Recently, however, the operators of commercial laundries have abandoned use of stearate soaps in their washing solution and now use synthetic detergents which not only do not provide a lubricating film on the stainless steel surfaces of the doors and the washing cylinder, but actually wash and dissolve away any protective and lubricating films formerly disposed thereon. As a result the stainless steel surfaces on the doors come directly into contact with stainless steel surfaces on the washer cylinder and also into cont-act with supporting rails for the doors within the washer cylinder and the door locks which engage and fixedly position the doors with respect to the washer cylinder. The contact between opposed stainless steel surfaces, and particularly under the loads imposed by the clothing and washing solution therein falling thereagainst during operation of the washing machine, causes galling of the metal surfaces and consequent sticking therebetween. Furthermore, any abrasive particles present such as emery dust, filing, dirt or grindings find their way into minute crevices between the opposed stainless steel surfaces and cause damage thereto and further sticking therebetween. The washing machine operators in attempting to dislodge the doors from the closed position with respect to the washer cylinder may injure the door or the door locks or the washer cylinder and pieces of the stainless steel from one surface may actually tear out to be affixed to the adjacent surface.

Accordingly, it is an important object of the present invention to provide an improved commercial washing machine including a washing cylinder having access openings therein and highly improved doors thereon for closing the access openings both formed of stainless steel, and including structure to prevent galling between the juxtaposed surfaces of the washing cylinder and the doors.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved commercial washing machine of the type set forth having wedge-type doors closing the access openings in the washing cylinder, the access openings and the doors therefor having complementary shaped stainless steel frames therearound and provided with wear members or pads disposed therebetween to prevent galling and sticking of one to the other.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a commercial washing machine of the type set forth wherein the wear members are formed of a metal alloy that will provide good sliding contact with a stainless steel surface placed thereagainst.

In connection with the foregoing object, it is another object of the present invention to provide wear members of the type set forth fonmed essentially of a copper base alloy, and particularly an alloy essentially of copper and aluminum.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a commercial washing machine of the type set forth wherein an improved rail and slide structure is provided for moving the doors between a closed position with respect to the access openings and an unloading position disposed remotely with respect thereto, the rail and slide I system including stainless steel parts in contact with metal alloy parts at all points of contact between the rails and the slides, the metal alloy being freely slidable upon the stainless steel to prevent galling therebetween.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide in a commercial washing machine of the type set forth, improved door locks for holding the doors in operative position to close the associated access openings, the door locks including latch surfaces and keeper surfaces adapted to be in contact one with the other, one of the surfaces being formed of stain-less steel and the other of the surfaces being formed of a metal alloy providing good slid ing contact with the stainless steel surface.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a commercial washing machine of the type set forth an improved mounting of the doors with respect to the access openings so that the wear members disposed between the frame surrounding the access openings and the door frame are spaced apart to permit the removal and washing away of debris, abrasives and the like from between the adjacent frames.

A still further object of the invention is to provide in a commercial washing machine of the type set forth wear members between and in engagement with the stainless steel-parts thereof which must move relative to one another, the wear members being easy to machine and fit in the various points of use thereof.

Further features of the invention pertain to the particular arrangement of the parts of the commercial Washing machine whereby the above-outlined and additional operating features thereof are attained.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a commercial washing machine embodying the present invention, the casing and the washing cylinder being illustrated in the washing position with respect to the frame therefor, but with certain of the doors for the various access openings in the open or partially open position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the commercial washing machine of FIG. 1 with the casing and washing cylinder therein elevated to the unloading position, all of the doors being shown in the open position;

FIG. 3 is is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical section along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1 and illustrating one of the doors for the washing cylinder in the closed position in dotted lines, in the released position upon the associated slide members in dashed lines in the remote position removed from the access opening in dotdash lines;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view in longitudinal section along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view in vertical section along the line 55 0 of FIG. 4 and illustrating one of the door side jambs;

FIG. 6 is a view in longitudinal section along the line 66 of FIG. 3 and illustrating the door bottom ja-mb; FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view in section along the line 77 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the door lock for holding a door in closed position with respect to the washing cylinder; I

FIG. 9 is a view in longitudinal section through the door lock of FIG. 8 and illustrating the engagement thereof with the frame around an access opening in the washing cylinder; and

FIG. 10 is a view in section through the door lock of FIG. 9 along the line 1010 thereof. V

A commercial washing machine made in accordance with and embodying the principles of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1 of thedrawings, the washing machine being generally designated by the numeral 20. The machine 20 is provided with a frame including end walls 21 and 22 adapted to be supported upon an under lying support surface and extending upwardly therefrom .erally designated by the numeral 32 being provided to cause such movement. The casing 30 is further provided with a pair of access openings 33' therein that are "adapted to be closed by associated doors 34 slidably mounted with respect thereto, the doors 34 being shown in the open positions thereof in both FIGS. 1 and 2 but being movable to a closed position so as to render the casing 30 substantially fluid tight. Structure (not shown) is also provided to admit washing solutions into the interior of the casing 30 to wash articles disposed therein and there further is provided a drive motor 35 (see FIG. 2) for driving a washing cylinder disposed within the casing 30. The controls for controlling the washing operation as well as for controlling the various hydraulic systems including those for shifting the casing 30 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 are mounted on a control panel generally. designated by the numeral 40.

Mounted within the casing 30 is an elongated and horizontally disposed washing cylinder generally designated -by the numeral and journaled for rotation with respect to the casing 30, the washing cylinder 100 being driven by the drive motor 35 through a gear reducing mechanism 36. The washing cylinder 100 is divided laterally.

into a plurality of separate and independent washing chambers, four washing chambers generally designated by the numeral 101 being illustrated in the washing machine 20. Each of the washing chambers 101 is provided with a pair of end walls 102 and a generally cylindrical side wall 103 extending circumferentially therearound and disposed between the associated end walls 102, the side walls 103 preferably being foraminous in character to permit ready movement of the washing solution therethrough from the casing 30 and into the interior of the various washing chambers 101 and into contact with the laundry disposed therein. The side walls 103 are each provided with an associated access opening 104 therein, the access openings 104 being generally rectangular in shape and having a size of the same order of magnitude as the access openings 33 in the casing 30. Mechanism is provided in the-controls for the machine 20 operated from the control panel 40 to cause alignment of the washing cylinder 100 with the casing 30 so that the access openings 104 in the washing cylinder 100 are brought into alignment with the access openings 33 in the casing 30 upon arresting the movement of the washing cylinder 100 with respect to the casing 30. This position of the parts is illustrated in is desired to unload the laundry from the washing machine 20, the casing 30 and the attached parts are shifted to the position illustrated in FIG. 2 whereby to place the access openings in the lower lefthand quadrant as viewed from the right end of the machine 20 in FIG. 2. This position of the parts facilitates the unloading of the laundry from the machine 20.

After the loading of laundry into the washing chambers 101 with the parts in the position illustrated in FIG. 1, the various access openings 104 for the washing chambers 101 are closed by doors which are provided for this purpose.

The doors-120 are of the so-called wedgetype, as will be explained more fully hereinafter, so that the weight of the laundry and the washing solution within the washing cylinder 100 urges the various doors 120 toward the closed position during the operation of the washing machine 20. Because of this characteristic of the doors 120, it is desirable that the doors be mounted so that they are dropped into the interior of the washing cylinder 100 when released from the closed position thereof and further are moved away from alignment with the .associated access opening104 and into a portion of the associated washing chamber 101 remote with respect to the associated access opening 104 so as to leave the access opening 104 totally unobstructed.

To this end a pair of slides or slide members is provided for each of the doors 120, the slides in each pair being mounted respectively upon the inner surfaces of the associated end wall 102, see FIGS. 1 and 2 particularly. The closed position of the doors 120 is illustrated to the left in FIG. 1 and by solid lines in FIG. 3, the door being held in this position by a door lock generally designated by the numeral which will be described in detail hereinafter. Upon the release of the door lock 140, the door 120 falls downwardly and onto the associated slides 130 to a position illustrated in FIG. 1 by the door 120 disposed in the second washing chamber 101 from the right and the position illustrated by dashed lines in FIG. 3. Thereafter the door 120 can be shoved or slid along the associated slides 130 to the fully open position illustrated by the position of the door 120 the washing chamber 101 disposed at the right end in FIG. 1 and the position illustrated by the dash-dot lines in FIG. 3, i.e., the position disposed to the right therein.

It has been customary heretofore in making commercial washing machines such as the machine 20 to form the various parts of the washing cylinder 100 and the door 120 and the door lock 140 of stainless steel, and particularly a weldable stainless steel such as type 304 which has a composition of 0.08% max. carbon, 18-20% chromium, 81l% nickel, and the balance iron. The various parts of the washing cylinder 100 and the door 120 and the door lock 140 may be welded together to form integral structures when the parts are made of such a stainless steel. Furthermore, this stainless steel is highly resistant to corrosion by various chemicals with which it comes in contact during the washing operation, is highly wear resistant and is abrasion resistant. However, like most stainless steels, the material galls when two surfaces are pressed against each other under force or when two surfaces slide over each other, whereby parts tend to stick which are pressed against each other under pressure and which are arranged to slide one over the other while in contact with each other. This has not been a problem heretofore since the washing solution used by the operators of commercial laundries included stearate soaps which provided a lubricating film upon all of the stainless steel parts coming in contact therewith. More recently, many operators of commercial laundries have substituted synthetic detergents for stearate soaps in the washing solutions and the synthetic detergents not only fail to provide a lubricating film upon the stainless steel parts but also remove and washed away such protective films which have been formed thereon heretofore. As a result, bare stainless steel surfaces formerly separated by stearate films are now brought into direct metal-to-metal contact with a consequent galling and sticking therebetween.

In accordance with the present invention a wear member or pad is provided between facing stainless steel surfaces which are to be alternately pressed toward each other and removed away from each other or which are to slide with respect to each other while in contact. More specifically, the wear members are formed of a metal alloy which slides readily over stainless steel such as the stainless steel No. 304 which is the preferred material for construction of the washing cylinder 100, the door 120 and certain parts of the door lock 140. Any suitable metal alloy may be used which will not gall or stick when pressed into contact with stainless steel or when rubbed therealong. The preferred metal alloys are copper base metal alloys and particularly those consisting essentially of copper and aluminum. Illustrative of such an alloy is the Ampco alloy No. 18 comprising by weight about 85.3% copper, 10.5% aluminum, 3.5% iron and 0.7% special additives or agents. Such a material slides readily over a stainless steel surface such as a No. 304 stainless steel surface without galling or sticking therewith even when substantial pressure is applied to the two parts.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 to 7 of the drawings, the details of construction of the washing cylinder 100 and the associated doors 120 will be described. As has been explained heretofore, the washing cylinder 100 of the machine 20 illustrated is divided into four washing chambers each defined by a pair of end walls 102 joined by a generally cylindrical side wall 103 extending therearound and having an access opening 104 therein. Referring to FIG. 3 it will be seen that the side wall 103 more particularly includes a plurality of part-cylindrical sections 105 formed of stainless steel and provided with a plurality of openings therein to impart a foraminous character to the side wall 103, the sections 105 being connected at the ends thereof to the end walls 102. As viewed in FIG. 3, the uppermost section 105 has the lefthand edge thereof secured to a frame member or jamb, generally designated by the numeral 111, and has the righthand edge thereof secured to a longitudinally extending rib 106 which is generally V-shaped in cross section and extends the length of the associated washing chamber 101. The section disposed to the right in FIG. 3 has the upper edge thereof secured to the rib 106 and has the lower edge thereof (not shown) secured to another rib (not shown) like the rib 106. Yet another foraminous section 105 (not shown) completes the periphery of the washing chamber 101.

Each of the access openings 104 in the washing chambers 101 is provided with a frame therearound generally designated by the numeral 110 and including an upper horizontal frame member or jamb 111, a lower horizontal frame member or jamb 112, and a pair of vertical frame members or jambs 113 and 114 (see FIG. 4) joined to the ends of the horizontal frame members 111 and 112, respectively, completely to surround the associated access opening 104. More specifically, the horizontal cylinder jambs 111 and 112 are connected to the adjacent foraminous wall sections 105 along the length thereof and are provided with abutment surfaces 115 and 116, respectively, the surfaces 115 and 116 extending inwardly into the interior of the associated washing chamber 101 and outwardly and away from the periphery of the access opening 104. The vertical cylinder jambs 113 and 114 are likewise provided with abutment surfaces 117 and 118, respectively, which also extend inwardly into the interior of the associated washing chamber 101 and diverge outwardly from each other and away from the periphery of the associated access opening 104. The four abutment surfaces 215 through 118 combine to form a wedge-shaped seat to receive a frame about the periphery of the door 120 and to provide a wedge-type closure in cooperation therewith.

It is to be understood that all of the parts of the washing cylinder 100 described above are joined together preferably by welding, the various parts being formed of stainless steel and particularly the weldable No. 304 stainless steel described above.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 3 to 7, the construction and operation of one of the doors 120 for closing the rectangular access openings 104 in the washing chambers 101 will now be described in detail. As is best seen in FIG. 3 the door 120 includes a foraminous plate or wall 121 formed of stainless steel and shaped as a continuation of the circular periphery of the washing cylinder 100, i.e., the wall 121 is substantially part-cylindrical in shape and has a vertical extent and a longitudinal extent just slightly less than that of the access opening 104 surrounded by the frame 110. The door 120- further includes a frame 122 around the periphery thereof and including an upper horizontal frame member or jamb 123 (see FIGS.

6 and 7 particularly), a lower horizontal frame member or jamb 124, and a pair of vertical frame members or jambs 125 and 126 (see particularly FIGS. 4 and 5) joining respectively the opposite ends of the horizontal door jambs 123 and 124. As is best seen in FIGS. 6 and 7 of the drawings, the upper horizontal door jamb 123 includes along one edge thereof an attachment flange 127 disposed at an obtuse angle with respect thereto and firmly secured to the door wall 121 such as by welding, the other edge of the frame member 123 having a reversely bent and inturned flange 128 thereon. The inclination of the door jamb 123 with respect to the door wall 121 is such that the door jamb 123 extends inwardly with respect thereto and outwardly with respect to the associated access opening and is generally shaped and positioned complementary to the associated abutment surface 115 on the frame member 111 to provide a good fit therebetween when the door 120 is in the closed position thereof.

In accordance with the present invention, the outer surface of the door jamb 123 is provided with a plurality of spaced-apart wear members or pads 130 mounted thereon. As may be best seen in FIG. 7 of the drawings, the wear pads 130 are generally rectangular in shape and are preferably secured to the associated door jamb 123 such as by welding at points 131, four of the Weld points 121 being shown for each of the wear pads 130. As has been explained heretofore, the wear pads 130 are formed of a special metal alloy which will give good sliding contact with the adjacent stainless steel surface, and particularly the stainless steel abutment surface 115, and will not stick or gall with respect thereto. The wear pads 130 are further spaced apart a substantial distance, the washing action during operation of the washing cylinder 100 serving to wash any debris, abrasives or the like from between the adjacent surfaces of the jambs 111 and 123. In a typical installation, the wear pads 130' have dimensions on the order of 1 to 2 inches and a thickness on the order of about /8 The lower door jamb 124 is constructed like the upper door jamb 123 and more specifically is shaped substantially complementary to the adjacent and associated cylinder jamb 112 and particularly the abutment surface 116 thereof. There are positioned upon the door jamb 124 four spaced apart wear pads 130 secured thereto as by spot welding and adapted to provide good sliding contact with the stainless steel abutment surface 116.

The construction and operation of the vertical door jambs 125 and 126 is best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings wherein it will be seen that the door jamb 125 is provided with an attachment flange 132 on the forward edge thereof, the flange 132 being welded both to the door jamb 125 and the door plate 121 thereby to attach the door jamb 125 to the door plate 121. A reinforcing flange 133 is mounted upon the rear edge of the door jamb 125 and extends therefrom in the same direction as the attachment flange 132 and is suitably secured thereto as by welding. The outwardly facing surface of the door jamb 125 is inclined at the same angle as the abutment surface 117 on the cylinder jamb 113 and more particularly is shaped complementary thereto. Secured to the surface of the door jamb 125 facing the cylinder jamb 113 are three of the wear pads 130 (see FIG. 5 also), the wear pads 130 being spaced apart and suitably secured to the door jamb 125 such as by spot welding at the points 131. The Wear pads 130 provide a good sliding contact between the associated door jamb 125 and the adjacent stainless steel cylinder jamb 113, there being no sticking or galling between the abutment surface 117 of the cylinder jamb 113 and the wear pads 130.

The door side jamb 126 is also provided with an attachment flange 134 which is welded thereto and to the adjacent edge of the door plate 121. The rear edge of the door jamb 126 is provided with a reinforcing flange 135 suitably welded thereto, the flange 135 ex- .tending inwardly and in the same direction as the attachment flange 134. The outer surface of the door jamb 126 is inclined outwardly with respect to the access opening 104 and inwardly with respect to the washing chamber 101 and further is shaped complementary to the adjacent cylinder jamb 114 and particularly the abutment surface 118 thereof. Disposed along the outer surface of the door side jamb 126 are three of the wear pads 130 suitably attached thereto as by spot welding and disposed in a like manner as the wear pads 130 on the door side jamb 125 in FIG. 5. The wear pads 130 on the door side jamb 126 provide a good sliding contact with the stainless steel abutment surface 118 on the cylinder side jamb 114, there being no galling or sticking therebetween.

From the above it will be seen that the frame 110 surrounding the access opening 104 for the washing chamher 101 and particularly the horizontal jambs 111 and 112 and the vertical jambs 113 and 114 cooperate to form a seat which diverges outwardly with respect to the access opening 104 and inwardly with respect to the washing chamber 101. This seat is adapted to receive the periphery of the wedge-type door 120 and particularly the frame 122 thereof including the horizontal jambs "123 and 124 and the vertical jambs 125 and 126 which cooperate to form an abutment surface and are adapter to cooperate with the seat in the washing cylinder 101 to form a wedging contact therewith. The Weight 0 the laundry and the washing solution within the wash ing chamber 101 serve to assist in holding the door 12t in a closed position since the weight thereof simply urge: the door upwardly as illustrated in FIG. 4 thus mort firmly to seat the door 120 with respect to the frame 110 defining and surrounding the access opening 104 .T he presence of the wear pads prevents sticking anc galling between the cylinder frame 110 and the doo1 frame 122.

The door 120 further carries a rib 129 extending inwardly therefrom as is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the rib 129 serving to tumble and distribute the laundry within the washing chamber 101 in the same manner as does the rib 106 on the washing cylinder. The lower edge of the door 120 also carries a pair of longitudinally spaced apart heels 136 each including a retaining flange 137 extending downwardly and adapted to engage over the lower cylinder jamb 112 (see FIG. 3) to position the lower edge of the door 120. In order to assist in opening the door 120 and moving it out of alignment with the access opening 104, a pair of handles 138 is provided thereon adjacent to the lower edge of the door 120.

In order to hold the door 120 in a closed position with respect to the access opening 104 as illustrated by solid lines in FIG. 3, a pair of door locks generally designated by the numeral 140 has been provided, the door locks 140 being in spaced apart positions adjacent to the upper edge of each of the doors 120. To this end a pair of recesses or cutouts is provided in each door 120 adjacent to the upper edge thereof respectively to receive a door lock 140 therein, the structure and mounting of one of the door locks 140 being illustrated in detail in FIGS. 8 to 10 of the drawings. More specifically, each of the door locks 140 is provided with a mounting plate or frame 141 which is adapted to be received in a correspondingly shaped recess in the associated door 120 adjacent to the upper edge thereof and includes a pair of vertical side walls 142 and 143 that are spaced apart and carry the operative portions of the door lock 140. Mounted in and extending between the side walls 142143 is a pin 144 which pivotally receives a hinge 145 thereon, a coiled spring 146 being provided continually to urge the hinge 145 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 9. Adjustably mounted upon the upper end of the hinge 145 is a door latch 147, the door latch 147 having a serrated surface 148 cooperating with a like serrated surface 149 on the hinge 145 fixedly to position the one with respect to the other, a stud 150 being fixedly connected to the latch 147 and passing through an opening 151 in the hinge 145 and threadedly receiving a nut 152 thereon firmly to hold the latch 147 in the adjusted position with respect to the hinge 145. Formed integral with the latch 147 is a handle 153 for pivoting the latch 147 and the hinge 145 about the axis of the pin 144 and against the action of the spring 146.

The latch 147 further includes a latching surface 154 which is adapted to engage a keeper surface 155 mounted upon the cylinder jamb 111, the keeper surface 155 preferably being formed of stainless steel and welded to the stainless steel cylinder jam 111. In accordance with the present invention, the door latch 147 and particularly the latching surface 154 thereof is formed of the metal alloy which provides good sliding contact with the contacted stainless steel keeper surface 155, there being no galling or sticking between the surfaces 154 and 155. More specifically, it will be understood that the position of the latch 147 with respect to the hinge 145 is adjustable by means of the serrated surfaces 148-449 to insure a tight closure of the door 120 with respect to the cylinder 100 so as to provide a substantial pressure be- 9 tween the latching surface 154 and the keeper surface 155 as well as between the various wear pads 130 and the associated abutment surfaces of the cylinder jambs about the access opening 104. Therefore, in order to eliminate sticking and galling between the surfaces 154 and 155, the latch 147 including the latching surface 154 is formed of a metal alloy of the type described above which provides a good sliding contact with the stainless steel keeper surface 155.

It is desirable and necessary that the door 120 before unloading the laundry from the washing chamber 101 be moved from the closed position illustrated by solid lines in FIG. 3 to the fully open position disposed away from the access opening 104 and illustrated by dashed-dot lines to the right in FIG. 3. To this end a pair of rails 107 is provided in each of the washing chambers 101 and more specifically are respectively mounted upon the inner surfaces of the side walls 102, the rails being generally designate-d by the numeral 107. As may be best seen in FIG. 3, each of the rails 107 is arcuate in shape and has an arcuate extent equal substantially to twice the vertical extent of the associated door 120. The rails 107 are preferably formed of stainless steel and the door 120 is provided with slides 139 adjacent to the upper and lower longitudinal edges thereof for engagement upon the associated rails 107. The rails 107 are further provided with a cutout or recess 108 at approximately the midpoint thereof, a raised portion or detent or abutment member 109 being disposed counterclockwise but immediately adjacent to the recess 108 as viewed in FIG. 3, the recess 108 and the abutment 109 serving to hold the associated door 120 in the fully open position even upon the movement of the washing cylinder 100 and associated parts to the unloading position of the machine 20 as illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawings. The slides 139 are formed of a metal alloy of the type described above which gives good sliding contact with the stainless steel rails 107, the slides 139 further being semi-circular in cross section and forming only a line contact with the rails 107.

In moving the door 120 from the fully closed position thereof to the fully open position thereof, the handles 153 of the door locks 140 are pushed inwardly whereby to pivot the parts in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGS. 3 and 9 to remove the latching surface 154 from engagement with the keeper surface 155. This permits the upper portion of the door 120 to fall downwardly and into the washing chamber 101 until the upper slide 139 thereon rests upon the rails 107, the parts now being in the position illustrate-d by dashed lines and to the left in FIG. 3. This movement of the door 120 also places the low-er slide 139 upon the rails 107 and pivots the heels 136 out of engagement with the lower cylinder jamb 112. The operator of the machine can now grasp the handles 138 and bodily slide the door 120 from the dashed position to the left in FIG. 3 to the dotdash position to the right in FIG. 3 wherein the door 120 is completely moved out of alignment with the associated access opening 104. Shortly before the door 120 reaches the fully opened position, the lowermost slide 139 moves upwardly over the abutments 109 and falls downwardly into the recesses 108 in the rails 107 to be held therein by the abutment 109.

When it is desired to close the door 120, the operator first grabs the bottom edge of the door and lifts it upwardly to remove the bottom slide 139 from the recesses 108 and over the abutments 109 on the rails 107; the door 120 can now be slid downwardly until it reaches the position illustrated by the dashed lines and to the left in FIG. 3. The operator now grasps the handles 153 and pivots the upper edge of the door 120 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3, a hand hold generally designated by the numeral 156 (see FIGS. 8 and 9 also) being useful in this movement of the door 120, the upper surface 157 of the latch 147 serving to cam the door lock to the open position and thereafter the spring 146 moves the parts to the closed position to reengage the latch surface 154 upon the keeper surface 155. During this pivoting movement of the door the heels 136 re-engage the cylinder jamb 112 so as properly to position the lower edge of the door with respect thereto. When the door is in the fully closed position illustrated by solid lines in FIG. 3 the wear pads are firmly urged against the associated cylinder iambs.

It will be seen that there has been provided an improved commercial washing machine which fulfills all of the objects and advantages set forth above. More specifically, there has been provided a commercial washing machine including a' washer cylinder therein having access openings and wedge-type doors for closing the access openings, both the washing cylinder and the doors being formed of stainless steel. In accordance with the present invention, wear pads of a metal alloy providing a good sliding contact with the stainless steel are provided between the cylinder jambs providing a frame surrounding each of the access openings and the door jambs providing a frame about each of the doors, the wear pads being secured such as by spot welding at spaced apart points along the door jambs and providing a good sliding contact with the associated stainless steel abutment surfaces of the cylinder jambs. By providing the wear pads, there is no sticking or galling between the doors and the washing cylinder. In addition the metal alloy providing good sliding contact with the stainless steel is used to form the latching surface of the door lock, the keeper surface therefor being formed of stainless steel. Likewise, the slides on the doors contacting the associated stainless steel rails are formed of the metal alloy providing a good sliding contact with the surfaces of the rails.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a commercial washing machine, the combination comprising an elongated horizontally disposed washing cylinder having an access opening therein, a first frame of stainless steel surrounding said access opening and including a first abutment surface, a door for closing said access opening, a second frame of stainless steel extending around the periphery of said door and including a second abutment surface, said second abutment surface being shaped substantially complementary to said first abutment surface so that said door closes said access opening when said abutment surfaces are in juxtaposition, and a plurality of wear members spaced-apart along at least some of said abutment surfaces and disposed therebetween and mounted on one of said frames, said wear members being formed of a metal alloy providing good sliding contact with the stainless steel forming said other frame.

2. The commercial washing machine set forth in claim 1, wherein said wear members are formed of a copper base alloy.

3. The commercial washing machine set forth in claim 1, wherein said wear members are formed of a metal alloy. comprising essentially copper and aluminum.

4. The commercial washing machine set forth in claim 1, wherein the extent of said wear members along'said abutment surfaces is small compared to the spaces therebetween to permit a cleaning of the spaces therebetween by passage of washing solution therethrough during the operation of the washing machine.

5. In a commercial washing machine including an elongated horizontally disposed washing cylinder having a washing chamber therein defined by a pair of spaced apart end walls and a substantially cylindrical side wall having an access opening therein, a frame of stainless steel surrounding the access opening and including abut- 11 ment surfaces, and a pair of stainless steel rail members mounted respectively upon the side walls within the washing cylinder and extending from a position adjacent to the access opening to a position remote therefrom; a door for closing the access opening comprising a door plate, a door frame of stainless steel extending around the periphery of said door plate and secured thereto and including abutment surfaces, said door abutment surfaces being shaped substantially complementary to the cylinder abutment surfaces so that said door closes the access opening when the abutment surfaces are in juxtaposition, a plurality of wear members mounted on said door abutment surfaces adapted to engage the associated cylinder abutment surfaces, a pair of slide members mounted on said doorframe and engagable upon the rail members for moving said door between a first position adjacent to the access opening and a second position remote therefrom inside said washing cylinder, and a door lock including a latch mounted upon said door and having a latching surface engagable with the associated cylinder frame, said wear members and said slide members and said latching surface all being formed of a metal alloy providing a good sliding contact with the associated and engaged stainless steel surface.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,803,662 5/1931 Carroll 22041 2,057,070 10/ 1936 Strobridge 2204l 2,223,023 11/ 1940 Weilemann 220-41 3,058,331 10/1962 Madonna 220-41 3,165,226 1/1965 Files 22041 LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner.

GEORGE E. LOWRANCE, Examiner. 

1. IN A COMMERCIAL WASHING MACHINE, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING AN ELONGATED HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED WASHING CYLINDER HAVING AN ACCESS OPENING THEREIN, A FIRST FRAME OF STAINLESS STEEL SURROUNDING SAID ACCESS OPENING AND INCLUDING A FIRST ABUTMENT SURFACE, A DOOR FOR CLOSING SAID ACCESS OPENING, A SECOND FRAME OF STAINLESS STEEL EXTENDING AROUND THE PERIPHERY OF SAID DOOR AND INCLUDING A SECOND ABUTMENT SURFACE, SAID SECOND ABUTMENT SURFACE BEING SHAPED SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLEMENTARY TO SAID FIRSR ABUTMENT SURFACE SO THAT SAID DOOR CLOSES SAID ACCESS OPENING WHEN SAID ABUTMENT SURFACES ARE IN JUXTAPOSITION, AND A PLURALITY OF WEAR MEMBERS SPACED-APART ALONG AT LEAST SOME OF SAID ABUTMENT SURFACES AND DISPOSED THEREBETWEEN AND MOUNTED ON ONE OF SAID FRAMES, SAID WEAR MEMBERS BEING FORMED OF A METAL ALLOY PROVIDING GOOD SLIDING CONTACT WITH THE STAINLESS STEEL FORMING SAID OTHER FRAME. 